Jury Duty

The measure passed in the state House without debate on a 63-2 vote Thursday. It now goes to the Senate.

A Florida man who is openly gay is taking a stand against a recent decision in Duval County, Fa., to end end all courthouse weddings rather than allow same-sex weddings.

A federal appeals court ruling that had appeared to make it harder for states to justify a ban on same-sex marriage, by raising the constitutional barrier to laws based on sexual orientation, may now be given a new look. 

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that potential jurors may not be removed from a trial during jury selection solely because of sexual orientation, extending to gays and lesbians a civil right that the U.S. Supreme Court has previously promised only women and racial minorities.

SAN FRANCISCO — An appeals court gave little indication Wednesday whether a potential juror can be booted from a trial solely because of sexual orientation.

WASHINGTON — Legislation that would prohibit discrimination against LGBT citizens in the federal jury selection process has been included in the Financial Services Appropriations bill for fiscal 2014, following a Senate committee markup earlier this week.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bid that would have prohibited discrimination against gays and lesbians in jury selection in West Virginia failed in the state House.

Gays and lesbians can be fired or evicted in West Virginia because of their sexual orientation, but they could no longer be excluded from serving on juries under a bill passed by the West Virginia House Judiciary Committee Wednesday.

Earlier this week, in a rather simple statement and wonderful declaration of his second-class citizenship, New York musical theatre actor and model, Jonathan D. Lovitz challenged one of his civic duties — jury duty.